Intrathecal Administration of Levobupivacaine and Opioids in Elderly

Hypotension and bradycardia are the most common adverse hemodynamic effects associated with spinal anesthesia, with particular frequency among the elderly. These complications are more hazardous in the elderly because they may have decreased physiological reserves and compromised blood supply to various vital organs. Hypotension is mainly related to the spinal anesthesia block height. One approach to improve hemodynamic stability is to use smaller doses of local anesthetic (< 10 mg of Levobupivacaine) to limit the distribution of local anesthetic within the subarachnoid space and hence to limit the block height. However, a smaller dose of local anesthetic may increase the incidence of inadequate level of sensory anesthesia for the anticipated surgery as compared with larger doses (> 10 mg of Levobupivacaine). Another concern about smaller dose of local anesthetic is the inadequate duration of sensory anesthesia. Therefore, small dose of local anesthetic need to be combined with opioids (Fentanyl or Sufentanil). However, intrathecal opioids are associated with several side effects such as pruritis, nausea, vomiting, shivering and respiratory depression. This will be the first comparative study of two small doses of Levobupivacaine (6 and 8 mg) combined using intrathecal Fentanyl (F, 25 and 35 mcg) or Sufentanil (S, 5 and 7 mcg) compared with large dose of Levobupivacaine alone (12 mg) in spinal anesthesia. The study will be conducted to assess the impact of a 10 independent variables (dose and combination of Levobupivacaine with Fentanyl or Sufentanil, age, basal systolic blood pressure (SBP), basal mean arterial pressure (MAP), time to lowest spinal SBP, upper limit of sensory block (dermatome level), time intervals of sensory recovery for two consecutive dermatome level (two-segment regression), time intervals of sensory recovery to the twelfth thoracic dermatoma (T12 regression), time intervals of sensory recovery to the first sacral dermatoma (S1 regression) and Body Mass Index) on the likelihood of not developing hypotension after intrathecal injection. The goal of the study is to find an optimal dose and combination of Levobupivacaine and Fentanyl or Sufentanil with the highest probability of not developing the hypotension as well as with the lowest opioid side effect that would be potent enough in achieving and maintaining a sensory block at T10 level for surgery lasting more than 45 minutes in elderly patients.

Inclusion criteria

• male patients
• ASA II-III undergoing elective urological (transuretheral or transvesical prostatectomy, hydrocelectomy, orchiectomy) or lower abdominal (inguinal herniorrhaphy) surgery under spinal anesthesia requiring a sensory block to at least the tenth thoracic dermatoma, lasting >45 minutes.

Exclusion criteria

• severe systemic disorders
• patients unwilling to accept regional anesthesia
• patients who will develope sensory block level lower than T10 dermatoma after intrathecal injection
• patients with an abnormal coagulation profile or with significant pulmonary disease (reactive airway disease or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease requiring daily bronchodilator or steroid use and/or room air oxygen saturation <95% immediately before surgery).